Diving
in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Region is the southernmost diving area in Croatian Adriatic.
Unlike other diving areas Dubrovnik region area is specific for high
clarity of sea and great depths that allow diving in relatively few
diving locations. Although diving locations are not so numerous as
in other regions but they are quite remarkable and worth the experience
they offer.

Close
to Dubrovnik, lie several wrecks as well as the attractive walls
of Elafiti archipelago. Especially interesting are the still present
colonies of red coral. In the Cavtat area the most popular are dives
on the shipwrecks from the days of Antiquity featuring sites of amphorae
and pithos. Of course these sites are a precious part of history
and a valuable cultural heritage and taking any of the amphorae or
pithos is stricly forbidden.

Between
islands Mljet and Lastovo lies an archipelago of islets, reefs and
rocks called Vrhovnjaci. This area is rich in fish and it is possible
to take pictures of some species that are rare in other parts of
the Adriatic. The areas of Mljet and Lastovo are under the protection
of the Ministry of culture. Diving
in this area is only possible when organized by licensed diving centres.
Diving centres have to be issued with a special permit for underwater
activities.

in the Mljet area zone lies the largest reef of stony coral in the
Mediterranean located in the vicinity of the isle of Glavat and in
the Veliko Jezero (Large Lake) on the island itself. This is in the
part of the island that belongs to National park Mljet.

Several interesting locations of exceptional visibility and varied
configuration of terrain lie on the southern side of the island.
Cape Korizmeni Rat and islet of štit are maybe the most interesting
among these locations, also locations of cape Lenga, Zapetrali and
the islands of Vanji Škoj and Nutarnji Škoj feature interesting steep
walls.

For that special adventure diving at the location of Odysseus Cave
is really something to be remembered. Odysseus cave has a wide entrance
with pebbles on the bottom of the entrance. It features a clearly
visible interior into which large rocks have fallen from the caved
in ceiling and an attractive wall in front of the cave full of numerous
fish sorts and lobsters.

For the divers who enjoy the prospect of free levitation along deep,
suken cliffs Lastovo island offers the treat not easily forgotten.
Lastovo is and island of steep and still untamed coast with exceptionaly
beautiful and clear sea that come in perfect in discovering the deep
fissures off the southern coast of the island.

To the wonderful diving locations belong also three caves SW coast
of Korčula near cape Ključ and the islet of Bijelac with an underground
passage through the island off the NW side of Lastovo.

Lastovo-Korčula-Mljet is maybe the most popular diving zone often
visited by experienced divers, underwater camera operators and video
photographers.

One of the most interesting dives in the whole Adriatic certainly
belongs to the peninsula Pelješac and the wreck of the German torpedo
boat S-57 from the WW II. This unfortunate boat was scuttled by its
commander after a bitter fight with British ships in order to prevent
falling to Allied hands.

Nowdays the wreck lies at an ideal depth of 20 to 37 meters in general
condition of good visibility. In a 25 minute dive one can enjoy the
reconaissance of this still armed warship with its special attraction
of still moveable and loaded double-barreled anti-aircraft cannon
on the bow. On the deck still lie two torpedoes as they did more
than 50 years ago when this ship was a deeply feared sight on the
horizont.

In the interior of the boat there is a marvellous sight of sea bass,
groupers and conger eels, also the unavoidable shoals of fish congregating
around the wreck. For film takers this dive is a must do when diving
in Dubrovnik region.